The Ottawa Redblacks held a event in Ottawa on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, where season ticket holders got a chance to meet the players. (Matthew Usherwood/ Ottawa Sun)

Quarterback Henry Burris laughs during a meet the Redblacks event in Ottawa on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, where season ticket holders got a chance to meet the players. (Matthew Usherwood/ Ottawa Sun)

Head Coach Rick Campbell (center left) and Quarterback Henry Burris (center right) pose with long time fans Jimmy Brackenridge, Pierre0luc Brackenridge, Anthony Jolicoeur, Dave Boulianne and Michelle Robert during a meet the Redblacks event in Ottawa on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, where season ticket holders got a chance to meet the players. (Matthew Usherwood/ Ottawa Sun)

The Greycup was on display during a meet the Redblacks event in Ottawa on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, where season ticket holders got a chance to meet the players. (Matthew Usherwood/ Ottawa Sun)

Defensive Lineman Keith Schologan and Quarterback Thomas DeMarco pose for a photo with Chris Tymoflchck during a meet the Redblacks event in Ottawa on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, where season ticket holders got a chance to meet the players. (Matthew Usherwood/ Ottawa Sun)

Quarterback Henry Burris poses for a photo with Paul Meunier during a meet the Redblacks event in Ottawa on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, where season ticket holders got a chance to meet the players. (Matthew Usherwood/ Ottawa Sun)

Nine year old Kadan Jackson gets his football signed by Head Coach Rick Campbell during a meet the Redblacks event in Ottawa on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, where season ticket holders got a chance to meet the players. (Matthew Usherwood/ Ottawa Sun)

If Henry Burris can throw a football anything like the RedBlacks can throw a party, then fans could be in for a real treat this coming season.

The football club feted their fans in a soiree at the swanky Delta City Centre, and while the party had been planned long before his big arrival a day earlier, Henry Burris was the main attraction for the 200 season ticket holders got the chance to formally welcome their team to town.

Fans also had the opportunity to ask questions of the panel, which also included CFL commissioner Marc Cohon, and rub shoulders with the players in a meet-and-greet.

But for long-serving fans like Peter Brackenridge, the chance to revive a long-dormant family tradition trumped all else, as he brought sons Jimmy and Pierre-Luc, along with sons-in-law Anthony Jolicouer and Dave Boulianne.

"We've had season tickets for the Rough Riders, Renegades, and now to have a team back is great, it's good for me to have my two sons and my two sons-in-law to join in, and hopefully the grandkids will be able to join in as well," said 61-year-old patriarch Peter Brackenridge, who figures he's been a CFL fan for as long as he can recall.

"Finally," said eldest son Jimmy. "We've been watching (from afar) for eight years, and we went to Montreal to watch some games, to Toronto, to Hamilton, and to finally be back home and be able to cheer for a team in your hometown feels really good."

Cohon acknowledged the question of when Ottawa would get its CFL team back dogged him from the earliest days of his tenure as Commish.

"When we find the right leadership group," was Cohon's usual response, singling out Jeff Hunt and the rest of the OSEG partners as fans gave their roar of approval.

Cohon will now travel to Halifax to pursue his "magical dream" of a coast-to-coast league.

"We had a hole in our heart not being here in the Capital, and we've filled that hole," said Cohon.

Ottawa RedBlacks football fans feted

If Henry Burris can throw a football anything like the RedBlacks can throw a party, then fans could be in for a real treat this coming season.

The football club feted their fans in a soiree at the swanky Delta City Centre, and while the party had been planned long before his big arrival a day earlier, Henry Burris was the main attraction for the 200 season ticket holders got the chance to formally welcome their team to town.